A few years ago, it looked as if Fire Emblem was on its last legs. Intelligent Systems threw everything it could think of into a game called Awakening, and it worked the necessary magic to get the series a new lease on life.

It's been a long time since a completely new Lunar game was released, and an even longer time since a completely new Lunar game that is also good came to pass. So let's look back at the Eternal Blue and DS parts of the series.

Square-Enix heard the cries of several people who needed to have more Final Fantasy XIII, and brought forth XIII-2. Whether this particular sequel is one the world needed to experience is another question entirely.

After Arena, post-Daggerfall, following Morrowind and past Oblivion, The Elder Scrolls reached Skyrim. Since its horses are more aggressive in a fight, the inability to get armored protection for them is a bit troubling.

Long-running manga and anime often involve characters seeking to get stronger, so turning them into RPGs isn't a completely inexplicable move. The results don't always justify the effort that went into their creation, at least not in the case of most of the fodder for this episode.

Through new episodes, remakes, prequels and some combination of the above the adventures of Adol Christin continue. On the PSP, Vita and PC he goes, and we're here to chronicle some further stories in the world of Ys.

Instead of moving on to the number 3, the Borderlands series went down under with a Pre-Sequel to see what happened between the first two games. The result is not quite as addictive as what came before, but it's still entertaining.

For years, the Persona series' last proper entry has been 4. To help understand the high level of anticipation the release of a fifth game in this series commands, detailing some of the things done right by one of the last big PS2 games seemed like a good idea.

It may not be a Final Fantasy in name, but Bravely Default would have been a worthy entry in that varied series if a new title hadn't been bestowed upon it. Its many laudable aspects, along with a few that are aggravating, come under the microscope.

Once more we venture into the world of The Elder Scrolls, this time with a game that helped popularize the idea of downloadable content. Oblivion is a big game, and we definitely came up with a lot to say.

The corporate entity Square Enix hasn't been known for frequent inventions of new IPs in recent years, but a DS game which received consistent acclaim is one that qualifies. Its title may be a bit grandiose, but the content may actually deserve it. (The World Ends with You)

The further adventures of Kazuma Kiryu after the PS2 involve an Okinawa orphanage, joining with multiple others to deal with some missing money from the first game, and gunning down hordes of zombies as a lark. Haruka, unsurprisingly, gets kidnapped a few times throughout.

Among the things for which Idea Factory is responsible, a series that involves multiple generations fighting evil across continents has gained a devoted audience. Precisely what that audience sees in the games is a mystery, given their aggressively unpleasant mechanics and a plethora of dull drudgery.

A certain game involving a young man's dreams of being a Dragonmaster, and his childhood friend's unfortunate appearance on the radar of villainy, showed up on the Sega CD before making it to multiple other systems. Apparently the Silver Star Story was worth doing more than once.

Sega had a lot of franchises that have been abandoned over the years, and one with a focus on fighting and summoning spirits showed up on the Genesis and Saturn. Then Oasis vanished, with Sega seemingly uninterested in bringing it back.

In the early days of RPGs, a title constructed entirely of ASCII that depicted an adventurer being overcome by a variety of random forces inside a dungeon was released. Rogue proved enormously influential, and we talk about both the original and some of the many games that took influence from it.

Few series make it to thirteen numbered entries, but Final Fantasy succeeded. The first installment with that number in its title has occasioned a lot of discussion over the years, and we're here to add some more.

The world of Borderlands continues to revolve heavily around shooting things while Claptrap entertains. In the second game, hitting kneecaps and areas other than the face proves advantageous, for the benefit of those without great FPS skill.

The fifth Final Fantasy was left in Japan for years, though nowadays it's available on a plethora of platforms. It may not be exactly what everyone out there would like, but those in search of a worthy Job system need look no further.

The Elder Scrolls began with obtuse games that are customarily bundled with later titles nowadays rather than being sold alone. For sheer quantity of material they're hard to beat, but figuring anything out can be quite a struggle.

Somehow the work of Idea Factory has been crossing the Pacific much more frequently in recent years. This is a look back at certain titles which have occasioned great sorrow, and learning that those feelings have not dimmed one bit after some time to recover. (Chaos Wars, Cross Edge, Trinity Universe, Blazing Souls: Accelate, Mugen Souls)

The Shin Megami Tensei brand has spread over a great number of platforms, and two recent entries on the 3DS are the subject this time. One finds the series counting to four, and the other brings a title originally on the Saturn out in English at last, showing that newer isn't always better. (Shin Megami Tensei IV, Soul Hackers)

Back in the day, first person shooters didn't come with RPG elements very often. System Shock and its sequel bucked the trend of 90s FPS titles by having some, and now they can both be played without resorting to shadowy tricks.

In the shift from Demon's to Dark Souls, many subtle things changed. The location, mechanics, platform, and feel all experienced some alteration, but the fundamental essence of moving through a cruel world eager to kill the foolhardy trekking through it remained intact.

The Wanzer is a human-piloted mech with enormous versatility. People piloting these devices are central to a series that spans many years and console generations, with an unfortunately high number that never crossed the Pacific, but something linking almost all the Front Mission games is that they provide a good dose of tactical action.

Once upon a time, the idea of melding RPG mechanics with objects dropping out of the sky in matchable shapes and colors would have seemed absurd. After multiple Puzzle Quests, the idea can still seem absurd, but that's no longer the automatic reaction.

It's time to talk about a Final Fantasy. Which one? Well, it's got improbable returns from death, monsters on the moon, a spoony bard, a jumping Dragoon, and too many versions to count using the fingers of just one hand. Those things should narrow it down.

In the future envisioned by Deus Ex, law enforcement is encroaching on the freedom of citizens around the world and corporations are pursuing a complementary agenda in the name of making sure the right people stay on top. Any similarity to modern day headlines is coincidental - probably.

It took the Persona series nearly as long as Street Fighter to count to three, but the reception once it did was enthusiastic. Here we have quite a bit more adulation to throw its way, along with a little talk about how it managed to get better in a Portable form.

If Sega's Yakuza series is accurate, urban Japan is filled with hotheads on every street corner just waiting to have whatever handy devices are lying on the street used for facial rearrangement. The first two installments of this series have other concepts too, but bicycle bashing gets plenty of praise.

Studio Ghibli's entrance into the gaming world ought to have been a time of rejoicing, but the reception Ni no Kuni received was not quite that enthusiastic. Here we examine why, and also hear about the DS Ni no Kuni that will probably never officially cross the Pacific.

Usually we talk about games that have some kind of following behind them, but the topic is a little different this time. This is a show dedicated to RPGs that reviewed badly at the time, and haven't received any kind of consensus reappraisal over the years. Still, reliving the misery produced a lot of strong feelings. (Secret of the Stars, Beyond the Beyond, Quest 64, Ephemeral Fantasia)

In 2009 Atlus took a risk by ordering the largest print run for a game in its history, but that gamble paid off handsomely. Corpses litter the world of Demon's Souls, and talking about that grim but unforgettable place is today's topic.

When it comes to the first Borderlands, lots of talk about gathering guns shares space with love for the simple pleasure of administering a shotgun blast to the face. It's all about bringing the fruits of civilization to another world.

Project Rainfall helped bring several titles to the Wii in North America, and one of them features a title reminiscent of another series Hironobu Sakaguchi worked on. Now that the Wii has been relegated to the list of dead consoles, the time to tell this story has come. (The Last Story)

The second Persona is a duo of titles with an unusual release history, and detailing it is an arduous undertaking. The Backtrack crew proved willing to take on this task, and the result is a fascinating listen.

Mistwalker supplied the Xbox 360 with some unique content, and a title involving immortals seeking the return of their memories got considerable praise. Discussion of Lost Odyssey is the centerpiece of this episode, but plenty of other subjects make it into the mix too.

While Final Fantasy spawns a lot of heated talk, relatively little of it is devoted to the earliest entries. The NES era spawned the series, but going back to that trio with a more modern mindset isn't the smoothest of rides. (Final Fantasy I, II, III)

The bar for bringing Legend of Heroes titles across the Pacific had been set rather low, making it easy for XSEED to impress gamers when it took over the localization for another installment. Of course, having a quality game at the core also helped. (Trails in the Sky)

Dealing with games made by tri-Ace usually requires a bit of effort, and in recent years it hasn't gotten any easier. Maybe this attempt to make sense of Infinite Undiscovery and Resonance of Fate is successful, and maybe it isn't, but at least the result should be informative.

Yasumi Matsuno's work includes a title from the late PS1 era that defies easy explanation. Attempting to describe it anyway may require a flow chart to keep track of all the concepts, but no one will confuse Vagrant Story with any other game.

There's something addictive about walking forward while beating everyone encountered along the way into a bloody pulp. This procedure has occasionally been used in titles with some RPG tenets, and talking about them proved a bloody good time. (River City Ransom, Guardian Heroes, Chronicles of Mystara, Code of Princess)

It's time once again to venture into the vast Megami Tensei universe. This particular grouping involves tactical maneuvers of people and their demons summoned through portable electronics, with time ticking down on the life of everyone encountered. (Devil Survivor)

Get set for some more explosive outer space adventures courtesy of BioWare, as the second installment of its massive trilogy comes under scrutiny. Does it cheapen the value of returning from the dead? (Mass Effect 2)

Of course there are people and things to shoot around New Vegas, but this most recent incarnation of the Fallout universe doesn't stop there. Enjoy going down the Vegas Strip and taking in all its scenic delights between the killing sprees in the desert.

The start of BioWare's ongoing series brought a lot of thoughts to the surface. Some are profound and challenging, others lewd and depraved, with plenty occupying some kind of middle ground in this episode. (Dragon Age: Origins)

In the world of gaming, anything that can be described as educational is a definite turn-off. First-person dungeon crawlers count as learning experiences in a number of ways, but one series transformed cartography into something addictive. Its other parts do a pretty good job too. (Etrian Odyssey)

One final hurrah for the Stars of Destiny came out of Konami, though it wasn't officially intended as such. Then the DS got a game which didn't deserve all the negativity it received, but as a spinoff couldn't do everything fans wanted. There isn't much left to talk about after that one, unfortunately. (Suikoden, Part 3)

BioWare wanted to convey the ineffectual nature of the human race when compared to other species populating the galaxy. This naturally took the form of having a human lead others into combat, while undertaking decisions that might one day have galactic consequences. Perhaps the human race doesn't deserve all the scorn it receives if that's the case. (Mass Effect 1)

Ah, Sony, holder of many now-dormant IPs. One of those was a pretty good tactical series that hasn't been seen for a number of years, but did a lot of interesting things along the way. Not all of those things were successful, but the effort makes for a substantive chat. (Arc the Lad)

Blizzard once had an idea to send players through the realms of the afterlife, beating up the locals and grabbing whatever desirable things they happened to drop. The setting may change, but this mechanic has proved enduring through the years, making its origination even more fascinating to remember. (Diablo)

Falcom has a storied development history, and one of its larger series saw multiple versions before ending up on the PSP for a few installments. Many things can be said about these particular renditions, but the majority of them are not overflowing with praise. (Legend of Heroes: Gagharv Trilogy)

The ruins of the central Atlantic region of the US are open to in-depth exploration, as Bethesda takes a crack at the post-apocalyptic future. Thinking too hard about one's surroundings may strain neurons to the breaking point. (Fallout 3)

Hironobu Sakaguchi, Nobuo Uematsu, and Akira Toriyama got together again to inaugurate Mistwalker as a studio. The results were unfortunately not up to the standard set when they first collaborated, but nevertheless spawned a series. (Blue Dragon)

Gust makes a long-running, plentiful series that doesn't adhere to many of the usual RPG stereotypes. Here's a trilogy of them on the PS3, sporting a love for pie and relatively few instances in which killing things is mandatory. (Atelier Rorona, Totori, Meruru)

After the first Fallout, eight decades passed before a new hero had to undertake a quest. That quest involved meeting a number of strange new people in interesting places. Dealing with these people could take place in any number of ways, but the stark effectiveness of blowing them away was a tempting option.

It's Yasumi Matsuno's vast Ogre world, but the game format for this bunch is rather different than March of the Black Queen. Just because things look more like conventional tactical models doesn't mean there are no gameplay depths to describe, though. (Tactics Ogre)

Nippon Ichi has made a number of other titles over the years, but a certain series took off in the public imagination and continues to produce fresh entries. Tactical action in the underworld with explosive Prinnies is the subject, and it's so expansive that this episode sets a new record for our length. (Disgaea)

An early Yasumi Matsuno title on the SNES remains a complex and rewarding experience, while its direct sequel provides one of the few opportunities we get to discuss something on the N64. Enjoy this discussion of some tactical goodness that doesn't play by the usual rules. (Ogre Battle)

The world would have been a different place had World War III happened, and the early Fallout titles showed a number of ways that the radiation could have changed things. The level of realism is subject to debate, but the games themselves are pretty entertaining nevertheless.

No longer able to contain its use of Marvel characters to just the X-Men, Raven Software went all-out for a grand spectacle with the license. Then three years passed and Activision handed the reins of Marvel characters smashing the forces of supervillains to someone new, with less appealing results. (Marvel Ultimate Alliance)

No matter where or when the action takes place, Link rarely gets a chance to rest. If it's not sailing or steering a train on the DS, he's got a showcase Wii title in which to save the day. More reminiscing about a premiere Nintendo series awaits. (The Legend of Zelda, part 4)

The original PlayStation hosted a great variety of titles that don't come up in conversation much nowadays, and among them are some interesting tactical items. Working Designs and Atlus had hands in bringing all of these intriguing games across the Pacific, though their merits vary. (Vanguard Bandits, Kartia, Brigandine, Hoshigami)

There was a long break after Suikoden III, and the results did not seem to warrant confidence in the series' future. The Island Nations and their struggle with the Kooluk Empire are the subject of this fairly restrained Suikoden episode.

The Persona series has been in the news a lot lately, but enthusiasm for the first entry seems relatively lacking. An analysis of both the original PlayStation and the PSP renditions seems warranted to determine why, and it can be found right here.

Was it really necessary to extend the Shining series into the action RPG realm? Regardless of how little clamor there was for such a thing, Sega kept at it for years. Analyzing the mostly-misbegotten results is on our agenda this time. (Shining Wisdom, Shining Soul, Shining Tears, Shining Force Neo, Shining Force EXA, Shining Wind)

When it comes to licensed games, the X-Men have been stuck in some real stinkers over the years. A few broke the curse of adapting a famous Marvel property though, and the thrill of smashing the scenery with mutant powers is enough to make them worth investigating. (X-Men Legends)

There once was a title on the PS1 that involved saving the world from nasty things lurking in the mist. Doing so was mostly accomplished through martial arts prowess, a mechanic that carried over to its sequel, and was then abandoned in the years afterward. (Legend of Legaia)

Much was promised by Peter Molyneux when it came to a series that took huge quantities of money and time to create. His promises were definitely worth their weight in gold, as this discussion makes clear. (Fable)

When tactical RPGs were almost unheard of on consoles, the Sega Genesis saw a couple that attracted fans with fond memories many years later. Other Sega consoles saw the series too, including its finest hour, though not without unnecessary difficulties courtesy of the company's localization choices. Celebrate Camelot's premiere series with us on this very special episode! (Shining Force)

Word of mouth built about a tactical title Sega released, enough to justify two sequels so far. The company's handling of the new franchise has spawned many strong feelings, and a lot of them come forth in this episode. (Valkyria Chronicles)

Square could have let roll with sequels to a certain tremendously successful game promptly, but years passed before they came to fruition. The number of purchases the public made once more products became available demonstrates the financial wisdom of the move. (Final Fantasy VII Compendium)

Sega revived a venerable series with the Dreamcast, but was determined to promote multiplayer over the internet with this incarnation. From the era of dial-up to the present, it's turned into one of the company's biggest franchises. (Phantasy Star Online)

A little girl with the ability to put spirits into objects, a foolish demon who almost burns his dimension out of existence, multiple consumers of the world, and a place with a certain je ne sais quoi. All came from NIS and involve various amounts of strategic thinking to succeed. (La Pucelle, Phantom Brave, Makai Kingdom, Soul Nomad and the World Eaters)

Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky, seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone, nine for Mortal Men doomed to die, one for the Dark Lord on his dark throne in the land of Mordor where the shadows lie. Mordor's grip has ensnared most attempts to bring J.R.R. Tolkien's world to life. (The Lord of the Rings)

This particular Gust series has many trademark RPG elements, including tongue-twister subtitles for the games. It also steadily progresses in misogynism, until the amount of odious material reaches near-cataclysmic levels. (Ar Tonelico)

Being a detective in an alternate history version of Tokyo with demons crawling all over the place isn't that hard. It just demands a willingness to get lost in evocative 1920s-esque environments while smacking inhuman adversaries repeatedly in action combat. (Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner).

Link went through several phases during the GameCube era. First he demonstrated cel shading, then he tempted gamers to buy GBA link cables, and after that ushered in the Wii's launch. It's all up for reminiscence on this episode - along with something about a fellow named Tingle. (The Legend of Zelda, Part 3)

Cavia's occasional ventures into the RPG world have been filled with bloodshed and piling up huge numbers of corpses. The other tenets of these games vary quite a bit, so have a bloody good time with a slice of this episode. (Drakengard, NIER)

Instead of venturing further into a galaxy far, far away BioWare chose to enter a land inspired by, but hardly identical to, imperial China. The company's usual high writing standard made the transition with flying colors. (Jade Empire)

Reviving barren worlds was a theme Quintet visited more than once, right up to the end of the company in fact. Bring back the faded flora and fauna of whole planets on this ecologically-minded Backtrack! (Soul Blazer, Illusion of Gaia, Terranigma, The Granstream Saga)

Once upon a time, Akira Toriyama created a long-running series that has lasted in the public consciousness far longer than its contemporaries. Given that it involves people increasing in strength to a seemingly unreachable zenith, a few RPGs have surfaced over the years dealing with it. (Dragon Ball Z)

The GameCube got the occasional exclusive, and Monolith Soft delivered a pair of them later in the system's life. Managing cards for combat and contending with winged citizenry, along with the occasional divine whale, await. (Baten Kaitos)

From a monastery in Wales to China, through many scenic spots in Europe and Japan, this tour finally hits the western hemisphere. Many emotions will be felt while navigating these locales, and a Ring of Judgment watches over all of them. (Shadow Hearts)

Enjoy a scenic tour of just some of the locations various Stars of Destiny call home. Start in the Scarlet Moon Empire, move to the Jowston City-State, and finish with a romp through the Grasslands. Excessive attention may be paid to ducks along the way. (Suikoden, Part 1)

A certain Square title involving giant robot combat and questionable theological ideas is the showcase this time. If that's not enough, an offshoot Final Fantasy and one of the PSP's most appealing Rogue-likes are also analyzed. (Xenogears)

For once, the attempt on the Backtrack to remember an entire series came to naught when its earlier games were just too archaic. The ones we did talk about were plenty to sustain a magical show, at least. (Wizardry VII & VIII)

From the minds of Yuji Horii, Koichi Sugiyama, and Akira Toriyama came a long-running series that sets the charts afire in Japan. It grows up a bit in the games we talk about this time. (Dragon Quest, part 2)

It's round-up time, and a big herd of steers is loose on the prairie. Looks like a might few RPGs are among 'em, so sit carefully to avoid the cacti and we'll trade stories around the ol' campfire. (Wild Arms)

Not many games that are offline feature going online as a key component of their setting. One episodic series with tie-ins from other media did it regularly, though, and hooked people pretty easily. (.hack)

He's a green-clad gadget man, a master of many dungeons with the tools to traverse them. He's an elf, a mute warrior, an unquestioning savior of the land, a lover of sticking it to the porcine, and Nintendo is glad to have him. (The Legend of Zelda - part 2)

What would one's probable reaction to encountering a demon be? In a realistic scenario death would most likely occur, but in video games making friends with the occult is a frequent experience. (Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne, Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey)

Among the formidable tasks undertaken by the Backtrack crew, none may demand more willpower than explaining how to play the most maligned Akitoshi Kawazu product of all. Things pick up from there. (Unlimited Saga, Romancing SaGa)

From the days of the Genesis right up to modern handhelds, Climax keeps making games. Looking at things from a different angle is strongly encouraged to make sense of them. (Landstalker, Lady Stalker, Dark Savior, Time Stalkers, Kingdom of Paradise, Steal Princess)

Brownie Brown made a couple of tasty confections for Nintendo handhelds filled with gummy products. How much magic is there when students have to prove that their lessons took hold? (Magical Vacation & Magical Starsign)

This is the continuing story of two brothers from Brooklyn. Be it evil alien fungi, shattered heavenly bean confections, those who have fury, or clogged drains, they'll get the job done with no backtalk.

Bringing the story of Ryo Hazuki into existence cost many millions and failed to enchant the enormous audience needed to recoup them. The question of whether this story will continue has yet to be answered. (Shenmue)

Once upon a time, tri-Ace decided to borrow some elements from Star Trek in making an RPG. Thus was a series spawned that continues in intermittent spurts to this day, though not at a uniform level of quality. (Star Ocean)

New York cops have it rough a lot of the time, but Aya Brea would gladly tackle some drug dealers instead of the evil mitochondria monsters that came one Christmas. Her life just got weirder from there. (Parasite Eve)

A guy named Ramza walks into a bar just a few minutes before a guy named Wiegraf. Their differences are resolved quickly and painfully. Whether that sounds eerily familiar or bafflingly bizarre, give the story a listen. (Final Fantasy Tactics)

So the only way you know the Shining series is by its superb tactical installments? Well, there were a couple of games that did some first person dungeon crawling also. (Shining in the Darkness & Shining the Holy Ark)

Intelligent Systems likes emphasizing how two dimensional Mario plots are with some RPGs that have poor depth perception. Only by listening can their shallowness be adequately blown up, so please do that. (Paper Mario)

In one of the most changeable series around, there's plenty of leeway to have some discussion. The Mana games, particularly the earlier ones, have now served that purpose. (Final Fantasy Adventure, Legend of Mana, Sword of Mana, Children of Mana, Dawn of Mana, Heroes of Mana)

When Final Fantasy returned to a Nintendo system after years of Sony exclusivity, it was news. Thus the Backtrack crew members bare their souls to talk about a series of precious crystal gems found in the caverns of the series. (Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles)

Eschewing the trend of three-dimensional gameplay, Vanillaware demonstrates how sticking to two dimensions can be stunning. Thus it is fitting that the studio's games warrant some time for analysis. (Odin Sphere, Grim Grimoire, Muramasa: The Demon Blade)

Observe unique personalities wandering about to their own daily rhythms, interrupted only by constant kicking. This is a hallmark of a certain tri-Ace title that has supplied ample opportunity for remembrance. (Radiata Stories)

It involves unusual names for otherwise-ordinary creatures, the collection of artifacts to enable travel elsewhere, and one of Nintendo's most well-regarded series. Join us in a trip back to the time when Hyrule was a new place to be. (The Legend of Zelda - part 1)

Remember when Squaresoft was trying to get gamers outside Japan interested in RPGs? Two of those on the SNES spawned some memories, and they're ready for sharing. (Final Fantasy Mystic Quest, Secret of Evermore)

Today's episode contains two acts. In the first, memories are cast back to a series that almost singlehandedly started the console JRPG. In the second, one of BioWare's best-known games is given plentiful discourse. (Dragon Quest - part 1, Baldur's Gate 2)

Once upon a time, a man with the ability to jump on a lot of platforms and dreamwalk had an adventure. That well-regarded PlayStation game is the subject of today's spirited discussion, along with its in-name-only sequel. (Alundra)

Once upon a time, a company called Working Designs localized many games for Sega systems. The Saturn was granted a number of these, and two of them that otherwise have no connection get a thorough scrutiny. (Albert Odyssey & Magic Knight Rayearth)

We go back into wacky worlds of farmers who want to live peacefully and get married. Something is very different about these games, however, and it comes in the form of some monsters that need to be disciplined with corporal punishment. (Rune Factory)

The realm of Asgard watches the mortal world, and its Battle Maidens descend to administer the gods' business. Learn why this is unquestionably a good thing for RPG lovers by listening. (Valkyrie Profile)

A couple of other titles sneak into the mix, but mostly we're talking about games with enormous Dungeons & Dragons inspiration. One of them is highly regarded, the other appealed to a very select audience, and their salient points provide ample fodder for talk.

The Xenosaga series may be justly accused of many issues, but a lack of ambition is definitely not one of them. For good and for ill, we talk about everything we could remember from Monolith Soft's big production. (Xenosaga)

In its last rush of games for the Saturn, Sega's localizers put forth a title that has seen its value rise to a stratospheric level. We discuss its many merits, in an effort to help explain why acquiring the game may well be worth the eBay price. (Panzer Dragoon Saga)

It's not so much when compared to March 2011, but March two years ago was stuffed with releases. Comprehensive coverage of these games would require many hours, but even a truncated discussion is quite informative.

Vicious beasts are kept confined inside tiny balls, released by their masters only to do battle. Strangely, the creatures seem perfectly okay with this, and the Backtrack panelists are here to explain why. (Pokemon)

Theoretically, games starring beguiling witches should be fascinating and fun to play. Our frequent divergence onto the subject of manatee mangling would appear to belie that theory, but listen and decide for yourself. (Luminous Arc)

A strange land called Spira features outlandish Tetsuya Nomura outfits and a propensity for group hallucinations. Take a trip with us through this oddly captivating place and relive one of the PS2's biggest hits. (Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy X-2)

Death, destruction, and world-threatening crises will not be found within. Relax and enjoy some idyllic farm life while looking for love, content in the knowledge that no one will get hurt. (Harvest Moon)

Do Tales games and excessively long podcasts go together? If you answered in the affirmative, definitely listen to this episode. (Tales of Legendia, Tales of Destiny 2, Tales of the Abyss, Tales of Radiant Mythology, Tales of Vesperia)

Today we're flying through the skies in ships powered by Moon Stones, fighting with and alongside the other denizens of the airways, and competing with the nefarious grip of an evil empire. Relive the Dreamcast's star RPG with us. (Skies of Arcadia)

Hunting dragons while drunk is not a wise proposition, but a certain series allowed it once upon a time, with the risk of eradication as a penalty for foolish or unlucky behavior. That series had many moments good and bad, but more of the former, as we'll tell you. (Might & Magic)

Playing God can be entertaining, and many years ago Enix created a game that allowed players to be the supreme being. How it feels to administer divine wrath upon the legions of Tanzra is what we're talking about today, so listen and reminisce. (ActRaiser)

It is a rare thing indeed, to find an RPG in which the combat is so addictive that it compels constant combat. Game Arts produced a series that did this very thing, and we have a lot to say about it. (Grandia)

Today, the Tales series gets a lot of time under the spotlight. In exchange for giving each game some quality time, we didn't even attempt to chronicle the entirety of the series, so rejoice in our deep dissections. (Tales of Phantasia, Tales of Eternia, Tales of Destiny, Tales of Symphonia)

In the past, a Dream Team of Japan's developers created a certain RPG. In the present, we talk about how that game has endured over the years. Meanwhile, in an alternate future, a DeLorean is racing back to make sure this game gets made. (Chrono Trigger & Chrono Cross)

Gordon Sumner has created a lot of good music, but he's not the Sting we're talking about today. A quick blurb cannot encapsulate everything the developer has done, so listening to the discussion is required. (Evolution, Yggdra Union, Riviera: The Promised Land, Dokapon Kingdom, Knights in the Nightmare, Hexyz Force, Treasure Hunter G, Solid Runner, Baroque)

The time has come to narrow our audience as much as possible. To that end, we discuss one of the Saturn's greatest games, which of course has never seen an English release by any other means. (Dragon Force)

A whip may be the preferred method of fighting Dracula's minions, but Glyphs and Souls will do it just fine also. Hear all about the best methods of slaying, and being slain by, undead on the DS. (Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia)

Clearly, all of us Junctioned Silence for status protection, because there's a lot of talk about Drawing and extraterrestrial love scenes. Choose a side of the debate on one of Final Fantasy's most controversial iterations. (Final Fantasy VIII)

Take a trip to the Algo system, and pack plenty of Meseta in case the Motavian tourist traps raise their prices. Alis, Rolf, Rhys, and Chaz all spend some time under our microscope today. (Phantasy Star)

Decades of domination by Microsoft, Starbucks, and the revival of grunge have had their effect on Seattle. We take you to 2050 and explore what Shadowrunning is all about, so jack into the Matrix and have a listen. (Shadowrun)

Do you like puzzling dungeons, Camelot's penchant for user-friendly menus, some of the GBA's best-ever graphics, possibly Motoi Sakuraba's finest hour for compositions, Djinni searches, and a story that really takes its time to get going but eventually becomes quite interesting? If any of these things sound interesting, listen to us talk some Golden Sun.

We braved the horrors of Dracula's castle in both the past and future. Hear the stories of our adventures, from which we were lucky to return after meeting Death repeatedly on the Game Boy Advance. (Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow)

What are we talking about this time? Well, it involves hippies, Prince Poo, eating hamburgers straight from a garbage can, absentee fathers, Smaaaaaaaash attacks, and the power of prayer in a pinch. Boing! (Earthbound)

A lot of heroes in Castlevania have taken on Dracula, but not all of them did so in an RPG way. Simon Belmont and Alucard paved a new road for the series, so who's better to help inaugurate the return of the RPG Backtrack? (Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night)